The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-23
CONSPIRACY CASE.
officer Hopkins in the Role of

In the Police Court yesterday George !
Hawkins and Joseph Silva were tried on !
charge of conspiracy, to wit, in !
maliciously conspiring to extort money |
beyond the sum of 800 from Frederick |
L. Leslie.
The first witness was George Putnam,
who stated on Saturday evening, the
18th, he met Hawkins and Silva, and
they told him to tell Leslie they would
be at his house the following day to see
him about some land suit.
Frederick Leslie said he was the de-
fendant in land suit. Silva knew
about it, and both he and Hawkins had
spoken to him about it. He was told
they were coming to see him on Sunday,
and being suspicious, communicated
with the Marshal, and the result was
two police officers were concealed on his
premises to await their arrival and hear
what they had to say.
Edward Hopkins, police officer, on
being placed in the dock, said he heard
conversation at Leslie's house between
and o'clock last Sunday afternoon.
He was concealed in feed room IN
barn. He put down the conversation
and could see the parties through the
cracks of the partition. He presented
his original notes to the Court, which
are as follows:
Silva-He came to me on the night
of the election and said he would pay
me $500 to swear you paid him no
money in the Royal.
Leslie-Do you think he has got
$500?
Silva-He would have it if he won the
land. 1t Is just this way, if you give us
$500 each we will swear we were both
there and saw the money paid If you
can't we will swear that you paid no
money. I want to make a stake and
leave the country.
Leslie-$500 each. Is that what you
want to testify to the truth? 1t is pretty
steep.
Hawkins-That is rather heavy; but
what do you think is fair?
Leslie-I make no offer. I want to
hear what you have got to say. The
place has cost me 81 $50 already.
Silya-We want $500 each or nothing.
| If we stand witnesses for Kanakanui he
will get the land and you will lose your
81, $50. You have not got any receipt
| for it. If you don't want to give it, say
so. Five hundred dollars of the kanaka's
money is just as good as yours. can
| Jump the town on that. We are no
| damn fools, you can bet on that. l am
going to make stake, and if 1 get on
the reef it is for something, and not for a
few dollars.
Leslie-You want to make stake all
out of me.
Silva-Your money is Just as good as
his
Leslie-You want $500 each, do you?
Silva-That Is what said.
Leslie-I will not give you five cents.
You take Kanakanui's $500, and be
damned. will let my case stand on its
merits I paid 81, $50 and you signed
the receipt as witness. If you want
$500 each to tell the truth, you can go to
h. This is what call blackmail.
Silva-You are talking like a damn
fool, man. You will lose the land as
sure as Christ. 1 am not going to throw
away no $500. Do you think 1 am a
damn fool. am going to make break,
and not going on the reef for nothing.
So you can do as you please.
Leslie-This is what l call clear case
of blackmail. l will not give you a
damn cent L know all about it. l
know the day you stole the receipt out OF
my pocket.
Hawkins-If you know all about it l
don't want to work for you any longer,
so take the key.
Leslie-All right; if you want to quit,
do. am surprised at you, George, that
you would do such thing after working
for me for three years. will not pay
one cent, but let my case stand on its
merits.
Silva-You are talking like foolish
man.
Leslie-All right; the two Of you can
get off my place.
Silva-All right; you will be sorry for
it.
At this point of the conversation Hop
kins and the other officer with him,
David Naholewa, Knocked at the door
and were admitted by Leslie. Hopkins
told Hawkins and Silva he had heard all
they said and had taken it down on
paper The defendants then left the
premises.
Other witnesses were examined, and
His Honor committed both defendants
for trial at the next term of the Supreme
Court.
In the Los Angeles Times" of Septem-
Der 9Th, appears an interview with a man